Bacon Auto Country Inc.

Apr 10, 2024

Brake components gradually wear down over time as they work, and this wear and tear will make braking slower and more difficult. As your GMC dealership, we’d want to tell you about some signs that your brakes are in bad shape, and you need to visit us for a brake repair.

Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your GMC Dealership

Brake Fluid Leaks

Brake fluid is vital for your braking system. It provides the hydraulic power essential to force your brakes to work effectively. It’s highly pressurized, and as time passes, this pressure and the heat it creates can cause leaks. This fluid usually leaks from worn rubber brake hoses or rusted metal brake lines. It can also leak internally if the brake fluid reservoir is damaged.

A fluid leak is difficult to spot, as brake fluid is thin and has the consistency of cooking oil. A fluid leak is usually identified by a lack of resistance when you step on the brake pedal. The resistance you feel from the pedal is caused by pressurized brake fluid. If you step on the pedal, and there’s little resistance, your brakes could be leaking. We can trace a leak and then seal it. Once the braking system is repaired, we’ll refill the fluid.

Compromised Brake Booster

The brake booster is installed behind the brake pedal. When you push down on the pedal, the booster magnifies the pressure you exert by 10x. It makes braking much easier as you don’t have to use much effort to force the braking system to engage. The booster uses a vacuum system to generate this extra force.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you step on the pedal and can’t easily push it down, the brake booster might be damaged. Over time, the vacuum pump inside it can become worn and won’t supply the extra pressure it should. Our technicians will examine the booster, and we can fit a new one. Braking won’t feel like doing leg presses anymore.

Screeching Noises

High-pitched screeching noises when you brake mean that one or more brake pads have worn down. The brake pads fit into the calipers, and they have a friction material covering that generates friction when the calipers close on the moving rotors. The friction produced by the pads causes the wheels to slow and stop very quickly.

When the pad material wears down sufficiently, a metal spike embedded in the material becomes visible. This spike will scratch against the rotors as a warning that the pad is wearing out. The spike can’t damage a rotor, but it makes a very loud noise. We’ll replace your pads, and the screeching noises will cease.

Worn or damaged brakes make driving very dangerous. Call our service department today at Bacon Auto Country, Inc in Jacksonville, TX.